Kochi: Sandeep Nair, the fourth accused in the diplomatic parcel gold smuggling case, has told the NIA special court that he has been receiving death threats in the wake of the confessional statement he gave after expressing his desire to become an approver. He requested the court that he should be shifted from the Viyyur central jail.
Sandeep has made the claim about threat to his life at a time the investigation team is examining the legal possibility of making him an approver in the gold smuggling case. He has said that there is a possibility of him being assaulted and killed in prison.
The NIA told the court that two other accused Mustafa and Abdul Aziz have given statements admitting to the crime. It also sought permission to again question P T Abdu, K T Sharafuddin, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Shafiq and Hamjad Ali, who are also accused in the case.
The agency submitted an application to allow the accused in the case to be kept in judicial custody for 180 days.
As the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act has been invoked against the accused, they can be kept in judicial custody for up to 180 days to complete the investigation and file a charge sheet. The NIA made the application as the 90-day custody granted earlier nears an end.
On Monday, the court will pronounce its verdict on the bail petitions of three accused.
Central agencies, including the National Investigating Agency, Customs and the Enforcement Directorate, are conducting separate inquiries into the seizure of gold worth nearly Rs 15 crore from a "diplomatic baggage" at Thiruvananthapuram International airport on July 5. Several people, including two former employees of the UAE consulate in Thiruvananthapuram, Swapna Suresh and Sarith P S, have been arrested by the central agencies in connection with the case.
